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Second Test - SAF vs. AUS

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EXPECT a little extra heat in Port Elizabeth when South Africa and Australia resume hostilities this Friday.

The tourists’ 118-run win in Durban was rather overshadowed by a nasty bust-up between Aussie vice-captain David Warner and Proteas wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock as the two teams left the field at tea on day four.

Both players have copped sanctions from the ICC, with Warner in danger of missing the second Test if his Level Two charge is upheld.

Such an outcome would throw cricket betting markets all out of whack, not to mention the Australian batting order.

Either Usman Khawaja or Shaun Marsh would have to fill in at the top of the innings, leaving an out-of-sorts Peter Handscomb to plug the gap in a disrupted middle order.

If the Aussie camp is to be believed, South Africa are doing everything in their power to make that happen.

The Proteas were left with too much to do at Kingsmead after Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon bundled them out for a meagre 162 in the first innings.

Only three South African bats managed to pass 50 in either dig, with Aiden Markham notching the only century of the game.

Matters were not helped by a finger injury to Dean Elgar, but it is expected the star opener will attempt to play through the pain.

South Africa vs. Australia top wicket-taker odds

This man serves as a perpetual reminder that pace isn’t everything. If there is even a hint of sideways movement in the wicket at Port Elizabeth, you can bet your bottom dollar that Philander will find it.

Is there a better bowler to tail-end batsmen in world cricket? One could argue that Starc should have a bigger impact against the top order, but he is always good for those crucial three or four wickets at the end.

Who wins – South Africa or Australia?

An awful lot will hinge on whether or not Warner is cleared to play.

If he is, the Aussies should ride a nice wave of momentum into the Port Elizabeth Test; if not, the resultant muddling of a finely tuned batting order will give the South Africans a big advantage.